Contact Email

History

Author Content

For her first assignment with the Bayfield County Journal, Hope McLeod was embedded with the smelters smelting along Lake Superior's south shore. The temps were low that week; there was occasional snowfall. "Bibbed, polar-fleeced and slickered," she describes herself in a brief introduction to "Smelt on the run," the first story in a newly published collection of some of her favorite feature stories written during a brief, albeit intense, career in newspapers.

"Glensheen" opens whodunnit-y and Halloween-ish. The 18-second overture is a buildup of piano and whispery percussion, and it sets the tone for the Minnesota-made musical's soundtrack — which will be available as a CD, for streaming and download on Friday. Musician Chan Poling, whose lyrics and music are paired with quirk-master playwright Jeffrey Hatcher's book, gathered the cast of the History Theatre's original production at The Terrarium in Minneapolis for a single day of recording, he said.

Here you come again Dolly Parton turns 73 this week, which — per usual — won't go unnoticed by local fans, who like to celebrate with wheels and flair. The annual Dolly Parton Roller Skating Birthday Party, which is at World of Wheels but not organized by the Superior rink, is Friday. Expect blonde wigs, rhinestones, some Dolly tunes, perhaps a "Coat of Many Colors."

Tig Notaro will headline the second night of Duluth Comedy Fest, Jade Presents announced Tuesday. The comedian replaces John Hodgman, whose cancellation was announced last week. Notaro, the deadpan comedian behind the Amazon original series "One Mississippi" and known for her standup, will perform Feb. 16 at the NorShor Theatre. The two-day fest also includes comedians Gary Gulman and Alex Edelman on Friday; and Brian Posehn, who will perform with Notaro on Saturday.

Rachelle Rahn is the SCOBY-handler behind Duluth Kombucha, one of few local large-scale brewers of fermented tea. In addition to what works and doesn’t work alongside celeriac, Rahn teaches at Duluth Folk School, site of her ’booch bar. The self-described DIYer talked to Duluth.com magazine about the sustainability tips she posts on her Facebook page and experimenting with SCOBY soap. Did you find kombucha, or did kombucha find you?

As Buddy Holly, Todd Eckart wears a white tuxedo jacket and bowtie, two-toned shoes, definitely the signature dark-framed glasses. The local crooner favors the old — whether it's a movie, furniture, or his own setlists filled with retro rock or the Rat Pack. He has considered opening a second-hand shop, he said, and he has the slogan: "If it ain't vintage, it's crap," he said, laughing as he momentarily channeled comedian Mike Myers.

From 'Open Road' to the NorShor Martin Sexton's "Mixtape of the Open Road" is a 12-song collection that ranges from clean cut, aw-shucks and winky to straight forward and bluesy to, well, pretty. The 2015 release is the most recent for Sexton, a hard-touring singer-songwriter who has always made Duluth a regular stop. Also playing: Chris Trapper, who claims John Prine and Kris Kristofferson as early influences.

Edward Moody is leaving CBS3 when his contract is up at the end of May, the Emmy Award-winning news anchor said Tuesday. "I was waiting for a counter offer to my counter offer," Moody said. "I was told instead, upon further thought, I'm no longer worth the investment — despite the success over the past two years."